Amy Thompson Avishai

Young Mennonites It is Sunday in Zanesville, Ohio, and I am with a community of Mennonites who have welcomed me politely, though cautiously. Do I want to become one of them, they ask? I sit among them in church. They quietly inform me that this time is only between them and God. No pictures allowed. Later, I’m invited for a Sunday meal. A gathering of generations, but again, no pictures allowed. This series, Young Mennonites, was made in the southeastern Ohio towns of Zanesville, Logan and Carbon Hill. The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptists, often mistaken for the Amish. They practice non-violence, believe in strong community and simplicity of life. Ohio is home to one of the largest Mennonite populations in the country. I was especially drawn to the young people, to how religion permeated all aspects of their lives. As someone who was raised in a military family in several Middle Eastern countries, I have always been interested in how religion takes hold in a person’s life. Growing up, I was exposed to many faiths. For this reason, religious identity has always remained a question for me. Perhaps, however, my life experience and that of many young Mennonites are opposite. For them, the religion of their parents was a given; for me it was more confusing. I photographed sparingly. Because I worked slowly, they gradually felt comfortable enough to let me into the rhythm of their lives – at home, church, school, work, softball games and picnics. I went on a joy ride on a tractor, sandwiched between three young women. We played catch, shared meals. I noticed a student’s yawn and witnessed another’s stress. The images are all unposed and made with available light on film.